This is part four in a 4-part series reviewing the Zola smoothie line. Today's review covers the Zola Superfood Smoothie. For some background information on Zola see the Zola Açai Superfruit Juices review, and Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 three of this series covering the Immunity, Antioxidant, and Energy smoothies.

The superfood smoothie is described as a "Smooth Green Blend of Cupuaçu, Graviola & Açai" with "Super Greens & Antioxidants." For those that don't know, cupuaçu is a tree related to the cacao (cocoa), and the graviola is a tree native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. The smoothie contains 81% juice and 70% organic ingredients (as opposed to the Superfruit juices that are certified organic). It also has the same aesthetic as the other smoothies, but uses a green motif.

I had a little trouble getting the peel-tab off of the bottle, which I hadn't experienced with the other smoothies, but the good news here is that Zola cares enough to prevent tampering. As far as sensory qualities, it starts off with a smell that is like a blend of some of the other smoothies, but otherwise it is hard to describe. In the department of tactile quality, it is thin, which falls into line with the other smoothies, but also slightly gritty. The look of the drink is a dark, muddy green, kind of like the olive green in an oil paint-by-number kit from when I was a kid (the 1980's).

Moving to the taste, it was surprisingly sweet, but slightly pungent. The aftertaste also had some sweetness to it. For a "green" health drink, it was surprising how sweet it was, as many drinks with greens can be more vegetable-like and thicker. This was much more drinkable.

All in all, it was one of the better smoothies by Zola, but I would still place it behind the Immunity Smoothie, which was my favorite. It could be that the overall taste of the smoothies grew on me by my fourth flavor, so that could also be a factor. In general, I think that the Zola smoothie line is definitely a matter of personal taste, and will attract many customers within their target audience.

In the past at BevReview, we have discussed multiple drinks from Zola Acai, ranging from Superfruit Juice to the many smoothie varieties. In this installment, we look at the Zola Acai Daily Wellness Shot. Because of the many reviews already on Zola, for information about the Acai berry or the Zola company, it may be helpful to look at the Superfruit Juice review.

The Daily Wellness Shot is an intriguing idea. It combines the positives of the Acai berry into a small, quick shot that can be ingested daily for supposed health benefits, such as (they claim) protecting the body from free radicals, helping the immune system, and giving energy.

The shots come in a large 32-ounce bottle, and the recommended dosage is one ounce per day, although according to the label more can be taken each day. The active ingredient list is as follows: "26,000 Proprietary Organic Acai Blend (Organic Acai Puree & Organic Acai Juice Powder) And Organic Acerola Juice." (As an interesting side note, the active ingredients seemed to be printed in a right justified font, so the third line is kind of stretched out. Just a funny aesthetic quirk I noticed.) The other main ingredient is organic apple juice. The product contains soy, but is gluten free.

As far as the look of the drink goes, wow! That is a dark purple. I would keep this away from clothing, because it definitely looks like it stains. It has the look of straight cranberry juice concentrate before water is added. The smell is that of a strong berry; it is very concentrated. This scent is similar to their other products, just more intense, and has that familiar Acai aroma.

The taste is not bad. It looks much more intense than it tastes. There is a little bit of a tang to it, and a slight aftertaste, but there is a feeling of an energy burst that follows, so maybe that is some of the health benefit or just the feeling of drinking something fresh tasting. It could definitely be the Acerola juice coming through. The feel is similar to that of drinking prune juice, both in color and in taste. In addition, the consistency of the drink is slightly thick, but very much in line with other Zola products.

Overall, the taste is very potable, which, for a health supplement is all that is really needed in that realm. If you choose to drink the Zola Acai Daily Wellness Shot, you are probably doing it for health reasons and not for only taste. As I stated previously, however, the taste is not bad and really less intense than the look of the drink seems to indicate. You will have to decide if the cost and health benefits are worthwhile for your individual needs.

This is Part 3 in a 4-part series reviewing the Zola smoothie line. Today's review covers the Zola Energy Smoothie. To learn more about Zola, why not take a look at our Zola Açai Superfruit Juice line review, as well as our first two Zola smoothie reviews: Zola Immunity Smoothie and Zola Antioxidant Smoothie.

The energy smoothie is described as a "Tropical Blend of Caja Fruit & Açai" with "Guaraná & Yerba Maté." It contains 80% juice and 70% organic ingredients (as opposed to the Zola Superfruit Juices that are certified organic). This smoothie follows the same label format of the other smoothies, using a reddish motif.

As far as sensory qualities, there is a fruity smell, but it is not overly strong. The drink itself is thin, but not runny, and contains some sporadic, visible particles, which I assume are from the fruit. It has a light purple color, which is not out of line with many of Zola's drinks. The taste is similar to the Antioxidant Smoothie, but better, with less aftertaste. Does it truly add a burst of energy? That is debatable, but it does taste fresh.

In general, Zola Energy Smoothie is not bad, but I hesitate to jump in with both feet in recommending it, which is an opinion I share with many of the Zola Smoothie offerings. It's good, but definitely a matter of taste.

This is Part 2 in a 4-part series reviewing the Zola smoothie line. Today's review covers the Zola Antioxidant Smoothie. To learn more about Zola, why not take a look at our Zola Açai Superfruit Juice line review and well as Part 1 of this series covering the Zola Immunity Smoothie.

The Antioxidant Smoothie is described as a "Berry Blend of Açai Berries & Banana." It contains 82% juice and 70% organic ingredients (as opposed to the Superfruit Juices that are certified organic). Aesthetically, the antioxidant smoothie bottle follows the same general label design, only the lettering is light purple.

Jumping right into the drink qualities, I was struck by the smell of the drink, and not in a positive way. To me it smelled sort of like cold olives. The Antioxidant Smoothie was similar to the Immunity flavor in viscosity, thin, but not runny.

The color of the liquid was a sort of purple-orange color, and was opaque with particles, as other Zola drinks. Regarding taste, it was sweet with an almost olive flavor. Upon a second opinion (my wife), I was informed that the olive smell was the grape seed. Either way, it will be a different smell/taste for those who have not experienced it previously. The sweetness does carry through in the aftertaste, which may be seen as a positive aspect by some drinkers.

As with the Immunity Smoothie, the taste grew on me over time, although it was definitely distinct. I wouldn't recommend this drink to everyone because of its unique taste. In this regard, I still think the Immunity Smoothie has the upper hand, but as the different flavors show, taste is not the only factor to consider when choosing one of these drinks.

It also depends on what health benefits you might want to maximize. There are other antioxidant drinks that also fit the bill on that count, so this would not be your only choice. Personally, I don't think I would choose the Zola Antioxidant Smoothie over other antioxidant drinks, including the Zola Açai Superfruit Juices, assuming taste is the main factor. Either way, Zola has produced a unique Antioxidant Smoothie that some may want to give a try.

In a previous review I presented the Zola Acai Superfruit Juice line. In that same vein I will present the first in a four-part series reviewing the Zola line of smoothies. We begin with the Zola Immunity Smoothie.

Zola Immunity Smoothie

The smoothie line draws on a similar aesthetic as the Acai Superfruit Juice line in bottle art and design. As I stated in the previous review, it still gives a "rainforest" feel, although in the smoothie line there is a lighter look and each flavor has a different color scheme. Immunity has blue lettering. As with the previous drinks, the smoothies come in 12 oz bottles.

Zola Immunity Smoothie is described as a "Tangy Tart Blend of Acerola & Acai." It contains 80% juice and 70% organic ingredients (as opposed to the superfruit juices that are certified organic). It is a broad mix of fruits as you might expect out of a smoothie. But again, let's get down to business. What effect does it have on our senses (i.e. how does it look and taste)?

When I first opened the bottle the smell hit me like a mixed fruit blend, sort of similar to what I might expect out of an Odwalla juice drink. Although not one of the top items in the ingredients, I feel that the pineapple comes through clearly in the aroma. The smoothie looks dark yellow to orange and was fairly thin, yet I feel it was thicker than the Zola Acai juice drinks.

As far as taste, it didn't sit well with me at first. I don't know what I was expecting, but it tasted like a liquid, lemony cough drop. Upon a second taste, and a taste the next day, I found this to be inaccurate. The taste is fresh, and gets better the more you drink it; it grows on you. As mentioned previously, the label calls it tart, and this is somewhat accurate. It is slightly tart, but not as much as you might expect.

All in all, I liked this drink and would buy it again. I can't speak to its actual impact on my immune system, but I am sure it was somewhat beneficial, and it's a lot healthier choice than most soft drinks on the market.

In the world of fruit drinks, Zola has taken on the task of promoting health, ecological friendliness, and taste. They offer three flavors of superfruit drinks – Acai Original Juice, Acai with Blueberry Juice, and Acai with Pineapple Juice. Before discussing the actual juices, it will be helpful to look at the Acai fruit, the base fruit for the drinks.

Zola Acai Original Juice

Acai is a fruit that is found from the acai palm and is known to have many health benefits. It is grown near the Amazon River and is reported to help with digestion, heart health, and immunity. It is rich in antioxidants; in fact the official Zola website states that it has 500% the antioxidants found in blueberries.

Zola as a company emphasizes their support for the Brazilian community. They have created "Project Zola," which works to give back to the people of the Brazilian Amazon who help to make their drinks possible. I would encourage anyone interested in the ecological and communal aspects of the company to look at their website. For some the environmental care is a definite benefit, but for those looking for a healthy, tasty drink, keep reading.

Now, on to the good part, the drinks themselves, starting with Acai Original Juice. This drink was much better than I expected. I am not a big follower of acai flavored drinks, though here at BevReview.com we have previously reviewed an acai-flavored energy drink, Full Throttle Mother… but that's about it. Like many Americans, I tend to avoid things that I may not be familiar with when it comes to buying drinks. I was very pleasantly surprised. The drink has a fresh taste and is quite clean. It is a bit different than some of the "standard" fruit flavors, like orange or apple, but it is definitely enjoyable. It is not for everyone, but it is good. One real benefit of the taste is that it clears your mouth fairly quickly, and doesn't leave you with a strong aftertaste.

Zola Acai with Blueberry Juice

The Original flavor also has a clear, liquid quality without much solid texture to it, which surprised me as I was expecting it to be a much thicker drink. The smell when I opened the bottle was fresh, but understated. The taste was clean and fruity, leaving an almost plum-like aftertaste, which I assume was the acai. I can definitely see this as a fresh, energy-giving drink.

Visually the look of the juice is opaque and purple – very purple. You can almost see small particles from the fruit, but as I stated before, it was not very viscous in nature – in other words it was more runny than thick. The packaging is aesthetically pleasing and does give that "rainforest" sort of feel. The drink comes a twelve-ounce bottle, and it is very easy to hold and carry.

Moving on to the Acai with Blueberry Juice flavor, the aesthetics are basically the same, as well as the tactile qualities. When it comes to smell and taste, it is a whole new ballgame. When you open the cap, you can smell the blueberries. And the taste can be described as "tasty blueberry satisfaction." If you like blueberries, I think you'll like this flavor. It still has the acai base, but the blueberries come through strong.

Zola Acai with Pineapple Juice

In regard to the third flavor, Acai with Pineapple Juice, again, the tactile and aesthetic qualities are basically the same as the original, but with regard to the taste and smell, it is a whole new experience. Pineapple aroma comes through in the smell, and it tastes like pineapple on an acai base. Where this drink really has a big advantage is that I feel it builds on the taste of actual pineapple juice. There is an understated pineapple taste compared to regular pineapple juice, but it is less acidic. Where regular pineapple juice can be tart or sharp, acai with pineapple juice cuts some of that acidity. If you like the taste of pineapple, you will like this drink, assuming you can tolerate the flavor of acai.

In the nutritional department all three flavors contain 93% juice, and are certified organic, as well as kosher certified. Each flavor also contains 24 mg of natural caffeine from guarana, and as stated on the label, "Each bottle provides 1200mg Omega 3, 6, and 9 Fatty Acids." As with many natural products, if you look at the vitamin and nutritional information on the label, you may be underwhelmed. The numbers aren't overly high, but that is because these products are using natural ingredients and are not fortified with vitamins to make their nutritional numbers look better.

Personally, I enjoyed all three drinks, but I preferred the addition of Blueberry or Pineapple to Original. Upon a second tasting, I think Blueberry is my favorite, but all three are quite drinkable to the fruit juice connoisseur. I do not normally drink acai, yet I found them to be enjoyable, so don't let inexperience with this fruit scare you away. On the other hand, none of the drinks were earth shattering, and for the $2.99 suggested retail price, I would drink them more for the health benefits than the taste. The price is in line, or even less than what you might pay for an Odwalla or Naked Juice drink, but you are getting 12 oz with Zola versus the 15.2-16 oz you get with the other two.

Because Zola's drinks are certified organic this helps to explain the higher price, but being organic is still a big positive for some consumers. It should be noted that, as stated on the label, the juice is from concentrate. Zola does seem to be going after a slightly different market than these other two mainstays, but I see them in a similar area of the health food, juice drink market. All in all, I think Zola has produced three solid drinks that are enjoyable to those who liked mixed fruit drinks with a natural bent.